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Barb

Barb

The Barb (also called the English Barb) is a breed of fancy pigeon developed over many years of selective breeding. Barbs, along with other varieties of domesticated pigeons, are all descendants from the rock pigeon (a livia). This breed was referred to by Shakespeare. It was also referred to with an illustration in Charles Darwin's Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication. It has been marked as cruel by many organisations due to the size of its beak which means it has trouble feeding its young and surviving.

Life Span 6-15 years
Weight 0.2-0.5 kg

What to Know Before Buying a Barb

Finding a responsible Barb breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells pigeons commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.

Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Barb. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.

Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Barbs appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.

Looking for a Barb breeder?

Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.

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